Antonelli takes Austin pole, 0.179s ahead of Verstappen
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix with a 1:34.035 at the Circuit of the Americas, 0.179s clear of Max Verstappen. It is his seventh pole of the 2026 season. The race starts at 3pm local time on Sunday, which is 5am Monday in Korea.
Top six in Q3
| Pos | Driver (team) | Time / gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) | 1:34.035 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | +0.179s |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) | +0.215s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | +0.232s |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) | +0.276s |
| 6 | George Russell (Mercedes) | +0.441s |
Ferrari led practice, then missed pole
According to Sky Sports F1, Ferrari topped all three practice sessions and were tipped to fight for pole, and Leclerc was fastest at the end of Q2. In Q3, though, Leclerc was fourth and Hamilton fifth. Leclerc said a slight drop in track temperature and more cloud made things difficult on tyres, and that the out lap was very hard, but he added that Ferrari had the pace to fight at the front. Hamilton asked on team radio whether rivals had turned up their engines, a theory Leclerc rejected, Sky reported.
Antonelli's Q3 and Verstappen's complaints
The Race reports that Russell set 1:34.476 first in Q3 before Antonelli went almost four tenths clear. Sky says Antonelli made a mistake in the final sector of his second run, which seemed to open the door, but Verstappen did not improve and his final lap was deleted for a track limits breach. Verstappen said the car felt very tricky with no grip, and that a bump on his last lap made it feel like a kangaroo. Antonelli described Q3 as gusty and unpredictable.
What still moves the grid
Track limits were a problem all weekend. According to the official report, Norris had a lap deleted and drops to eighth, with Oscar Piastri seventh. Arvid Lindblad has a five-place drop for exceeding his engine component allowance, so the top ten will be reshuffled. Franco Colapinto has a ten-place penalty for a new control electronics unit, and Gabriel Bortoleto starts at the back after power unit component changes. Alonso and Bearman, who went out in Q2 in 15th and 16th, each gain a place as a result.
The title is also in play. Sky Sports F1 reports that if Antonelli wins and other results go his way, he could become the youngest champion with five rounds remaining. In Sky's account, if Antonelli wins, Russell finishing in the top eight postpones it, while Hamilton finishing fifth or lower would confirm it. Korean fans can watch at 5am on Monday.
Sources
- Formula1.com — Antonelli seizes pole position ahead of Verstappen in Qualifying at the United States GP
- The Race — F1 2026 US Grand Prix qualifying results
- Sky Sports F1 — United States GP Qualifying: Kimi Antonelli beats Max Verstappen to surprise pole
- PlanetF1 — United States GP: Antonelli seals pole amid Russell and Hamilton setback